The AI Answer Is Clear, Lewis Need Not Fear

AI — great role model?To all of you readers out there who scoffed at me when I proposed that the 76ers trade Allen Iverson, what do you have to say for yourselves now? Not only is he about to face criminal charges, but he is single-handedly destroying the team chemistry of Philadelphia. Unfortunately, Larry Brown and company can't even trade him, because they know that they won't get full value in return. Also, it is hard to trade a guy when he might be playing ball in the penal league next season.

Despite being a league MVP, Philadelphia might be better off releasing the guy. How on earth can the rest of the team function when they are being constantly bombarded with Iverson questions? One man does not win championships alone. Allen Iverson is a good player, but he is not worth risking the health of a franchise over. Does it really matter if the guy is guilty or innocent of the charges anymore?

Baseball being suedAs if the tie in this year's All-Star Game wasn't bad enough for Bud Selig. Now, he and Major League Baseball are being sued by the 14 former minority owners of the Montreal Expos. The suit claims that Selig planted Jeffrey Loria as the new owner of Montreal in 1999 so that he would systematically destroy baseball in Montreal, making it possible to contract the Expos. Loria issued cash calls to the rest of the owners during his tenure in Montreal. Each time the minority owners did not want to match his capital, Loria gained more equity in the team.

We have to question the timing of this lawsuit. Why didn't the minority owners put up a fight a year ago? It is possible that these 14 owners are merely trying to set the stage for a recoup of their losses in the Expos franchise, rather than trying to save them. But, maybe they do have a point. Why else would Selig agree to lend Loria money to take over the Florida Marlins? Loria didn't do a great job in Montreal, so why let him take over another franchise? If I were a Marlins fan, I wouldn't be very confident in my owners.

New NFL divisions will be interestingHave you had a chance to sit down and examine the new divisions in the NFL starting this season? While some rivalries remain intact, there are some interesting changes. In what is now called the AFC North, the Steelers appear to be the team to beat. This division is so weak, Pittsburgh might have a chance at home field advantage. Does anyone really believe that the Bengals, Browns and Ravens will compete with Pittsburgh? Meanwhile, the toughest division appears to be the AFC East. The Dolphins, Bills, Patriots, and Jets all appear to be ready to contend for the playoffs, something that is not evident in all of the divisions.

The NFC West will be a two-horse race, featuring the 49ers and Rams. The Cards and Seahawks will battle for last place all season long. The AFC West will be a highly contested division, as Denver, San Diego, Kansas City, and Oakland all look to improve. The Eagles will probably win the NFC East, beating out Dallas, New York and Washington. The new-look Colts will attempt to win the AFC South over the Titans, Jaguars and Texans, while the Saints, Bucs, Falcons, and Panthers will fight for the NFC South crown. In the NFC North, The Bears and Packers should be the frontrunners, over the Vikings and Lions.

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